FOCAsport Model-1 1955 Fomapan 200
Test film of my FOCAsport Model-1 year 1955, a 35mm French camera produced by O.P.L. (Optique et Précision de Levallois) is its factory of Châteaudun, France.
The FOCAsport camera was loaded according the user manual with a FOMAPAN 200 36-exposure film exposed for 160 ISO when used with a FOCA AUV filter (coefficient. x1, no correction) or 80 ISO to compensate (when used) the absorption of a FOCA Yellow filter x2,5, fitted to the lens with a FOCA metal shade hood.
I used a Minolta Autometer III with a 10° finder for selective light measurements privileging the shadow areas.
AUV filter
"La Vogue des Marrons" * Boulevard de la Croix Rousse, November 9, 2023
69004 Lyon
France
After complete exposure, the film was processed using Tetenal Ultrafin Liquid developper at dilution 1+20 and 20°C for 7min30. The film was then digitized using a Sony A7 body fitted to a Minolta Slide Duplicator installed on a Minolta Auto Bellows III with a lens Minolta Bellow Macro Rokkor 50mm f/3.5. The RAW files obtained were processed without intermediate files in LR and edited to the final jpeg pictures.
All views of the film are presented in the dedicated album either in the printed framed versions and unframed full-size jpeg plus some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
Due to a large promotion in Europe of the Kodachrome film by Kodak (Kodak-Pathé in France) a large market was opened to quality but more affordable camera's than the top-of-the-line FOCA camera's with their curtain Leica-type shutter. In 1955 O.P.L. released the first FOCAsport with a build quality equivalent to the FOCA but with a more affordable 3-element fixed lens NEOPLAR 1:3.5 f=4,5cm with zone focusing, a central leaf shutter ATOS II (ATOS was a French company) with 2 leaves limiting a bit the shortest exposition time to 1/300s up to the second plus the B pose. Focusing is obtained by moving the front lens only.
The FOCAsport, ancestor of compact 35mm camera's, were very popular. A bit more than 300.000 FOCAsport's were produced until 1965 in 12 different versions. They were also sold tax-free in many military stores for soldiers of the French Army, in France, occupied Germany and oversea's.
The camera was found from a French eBay dealer for less than 30€ including the delivery, the plain leather ever-ready FOCA bag is in a pristine condition and full operating camera functions.
*About "La Vogue des Marrons":
La Vogue des Marrons is a traditional Lyon funfair and a major event in Croix-Rousse district, from October to mid-November. Installed every year for about a month, it is the latest fashion of the year, and extends over a good part of the Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse, the entire Place de la Croix-Rousse and Place des Tapis, and blocks the exit from the rue Terme tunnel. This is a perfect occasion to taste the first grilled chestnuts of the year there.
Born more than 150 years ago, it has become a Lyon tradition alongside the food market, traboules or authentic bistros.
FOCAsport Model-1 1955 Fomapan 200
Test film of my FOCAsport Model-1 year 1955, a 35mm French camera produced by O.P.L. (Optique et Précision de Levallois) is its factory of Châteaudun, France.
The FOCAsport camera was loaded according the user manual with a FOMAPAN 200 36-exposure film exposed for 160 ISO when used with a FOCA AUV filter (coefficient. x1, no correction) or 80 ISO to compensate (when used) the absorption of a FOCA Yellow filter x2,5, fitted to the lens with a FOCA metal shade hood.
I used a Minolta Autometer III with a 10° finder for selective light measurements privileging the shadow areas.
AUV filter
"La Vogue des Marrons" * Boulevard de la Croix Rousse, November 9, 2023
69004 Lyon
France
After complete exposure, the film was processed using Tetenal Ultrafin Liquid developper at dilution 1+20 and 20°C for 7min30. The film was then digitized using a Sony A7 body fitted to a Minolta Slide Duplicator installed on a Minolta Auto Bellows III with a lens Minolta Bellow Macro Rokkor 50mm f/3.5. The RAW files obtained were processed without intermediate files in LR and edited to the final jpeg pictures.
All views of the film are presented in the dedicated album either in the printed framed versions and unframed full-size jpeg plus some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
Due to a large promotion in Europe of the Kodachrome film by Kodak (Kodak-Pathé in France) a large market was opened to quality but more affordable camera's than the top-of-the-line FOCA camera's with their curtain Leica-type shutter. In 1955 O.P.L. released the first FOCAsport with a build quality equivalent to the FOCA but with a more affordable 3-element fixed lens NEOPLAR 1:3.5 f=4,5cm with zone focusing, a central leaf shutter ATOS II (ATOS was a French company) with 2 leaves limiting a bit the shortest exposition time to 1/300s up to the second plus the B pose. Focusing is obtained by moving the front lens only.
The FOCAsport, ancestor of compact 35mm camera's, were very popular. A bit more than 300.000 FOCAsport's were produced until 1965 in 12 different versions. They were also sold tax-free in many military stores for soldiers of the French Army, in France, occupied Germany and oversea's.
The camera was found from a French eBay dealer for less than 30€ including the delivery, the plain leather ever-ready FOCA bag is in a pristine condition and full operating camera functions.
*About "La Vogue des Marrons":
La Vogue des Marrons is a traditional Lyon funfair and a major event in Croix-Rousse district, from October to mid-November. Installed every year for about a month, it is the latest fashion of the year, and extends over a good part of the Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse, the entire Place de la Croix-Rousse and Place des Tapis, and blocks the exit from the rue Terme tunnel. This is a perfect occasion to taste the first grilled chestnuts of the year there.
Born more than 150 years ago, it has become a Lyon tradition alongside the food market, traboules or authentic bistros.